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Give Dad the Gift of Altruism this Father's Day

Posted on 06/12/2017

Father’s Day is just around the corner on this coming Sunday, June 18th. On this day we celebrate the men in our lives who have filled the role of “father” through their love, kindness and positive role modelling.

Yet for some, Father’s Day can be an especially hard day. Some individuals may not have enough resources to get gifts for Father’s Day, their father may be absent or the role of their father may have never been filled. How can we celebrate this day while remembering those among us in different situations? Today we’re going to talk about how to give Dad the gift of altruism this Father’s Day.

1.Respect those whose fathers aren’t present.
One of the hardest yet most valuable things you can do to celebrate an altruistic Father’s Day is to recognize that many people may not have a paternal presence in their lives. Whether their father has passed away, is serving our country or is not a part of their lives, Father’s Day can be a difficult time for many.

While this certainly doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to celebrate the day yourself, it does give us an opportunity to respect people from different situations. Be careful in how you word phrases, share posts or even treat others on this day. Recognize that this day may create contrasting feelings for people, and respecting these feelings is a way to share compassion.

2. Consider those who have different kinds of fathers.
Along with those whose fathers are not present, there are also different kinds of fathers. Some people consider their grandfather, uncle or even mom a paternal figure in their lives. Some individuals may have an adopted father or multiple father figures. This Father’s Day, spread the gift of understanding by recognizing those who celebrate their different kinds of fathers.

3. Give your dad a gift that gives back.
For the father figure in your life, celebrate an altruistic Father’s Day by giving a gift that gives back. Check out different programs both locally and nationally that have the option to buy a gift while also donating money or services to a cause.

Oftentimes, both nonprofit organizations and charitable businesses will have gift choices where proceeds support a cause close to your heart. Check online or in your community to see what gift you can get dad that supports a mission he believes in.

4. Spend time doing what he wants.
Of course, one awesome way to celebrate Father’s day is by spending time together as a family doing activities dad is interested in. These may not always be the “most interesting” ventures, but having everyone together to celebrate is worth it. Dads provide a loving, stable force in the family, so celebrate his commitment this Father’s Day by spending time doing some of his favorite hobbies and pastimes.

5. Get involved in the community.
Finally, have an altruistic Father’s Day by getting involved in the community as a family. Find a nonprofit cause your dad cares about and volunteer or donate to celebrate the day. This way, your family gets to enjoy the day and share that enjoyment with others in the community.

This Father’s Day, give Dad the best gift: a caring, compassionate life. See how you can support others around you and give back this Sunday. Together, we can create a more altruistic world.

The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources, a program of Children's Aid and Family Services, is a recognized leader in community and school-based education programs about alcohol and drug abuse prevention. Founded in 1979, The Center provides extensive resources, information, expertise and support in understanding and preventing alcohol and drug abuse and advocates for responsive prevention and treatment services. The Center offers evidence-based programs to communities and schools, as well as a full-service resource and referral center. The Center has programs, services and workshops for people of all ages to strengthen families and promote healthy lifestyles. The Center is the official Prevention Resource Center for Bergen County and towns East of the Passaic River in Passaic County.

Heroin: The Silent Epidemic

It has been all over the local news. There has been a dramatic increase in teenagers and young adults using heroin, especially in Bergen County. Below are a series of resources and articles for parents.

Watch the Bergen County Prevention Coalition PSA entitled The voices of Addiction of Bergen County. The video tells the stories of three people who live in Bergen County, New Jersey; a mom whose 21 year-old daughter passed away after overdosing on heroin, a young man incarcerated in the Bergen County jail who was a high school track star and began using painkillers when he broke his arm in several places, and a young woman who began using heroin when she was 17 and is now in a recovery program. Their stories began similarly - drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana were fun things to do and not a big deal or anything that was of great concern. The link between early use and the use of pills and heroin are what followed with each story’s outcome different from the other; with death, incarceration, and recovery.

We want you to know that they are not alone in managing issues related to addiction, there are resources available for help and support. Reach out to The Center for Drug and Alcohol Resources at 201-740-7069 or thecenter@cafsnj.org for more information or to access resources.

Turn in your expired or unused prescriptions for safe disposal.There are many sites throughout Bergen County where you can safely dispose of your expired or used prescriptions. See the link below.

The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources was awarded a contract from the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, to develop the Opioid Overdose Recovery Program in Bergen County. The purpose of the Program is to provide one-on-one assistance in emergency rooms by an individual in long-term recovery to those who have overdosed on opioids and were given Narcan by a law enforcement official, EMT or hospital staff, to end the ‘revolving door’ of cycling in and out of drug overdose situations. OORP can be dispatched 24 hours a day 7 days per week when Narcan is administered.

TCADR Self-Administered Screening Tool

The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources (TCADR) has launched a web-based interactive screening tool designed to provide users with appropriate referrals to addiction treatment services. TCADR Self-Administered Screening Tool guides the user through a short series of questions and, based on the responses, generates two referrals to treatment providers local to Bergen County, New Jersey and its immediate vicinity. While not intended to diagnose a substance abuse problem, the tool utilizes the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Patient Placement Criteria to provide referrals to programs that are appropriate to the user's needs. The ASAM Criteria is the most widely used and comprehensive criteria used for the placement of individuals with alcohol and drug problems. The tool is not designed to take the place of an assessment by an addictions professional, but it will take the guesswork out of where to turn for help.